(CNS Business): The faith-based US healthcare provider, Ascension, has pulled out of its partnership with Health City Cayman Islands, the East End hospital founded by the internationally renowned Indian cardiac surgeon, Devi Shetty. Since the state-of-the-art facility was first conceived and then through the construction and opening, the hospital’s goals have changed, and the ending of the deal with its US partner, originally signed to much fanfare in 2012, appears to signal an end to the original ambition of attracting medical tourism from North America. In recent months it has become apparent that HCCI is more focused on the local and regional market.

In a press release issued Tuesday, Ascension said it was focusing on its other international partnerships but would “maintain a close relationship with Narayana Health and its Chairman and Director, Dr Devi Shetty”.

Since it opened in 2014, the 104-bed hospital has served around 46,000 patients, officials said. Its initial focus was on cardiac and orthopedic procedures but it has gradually expanded into other services. It has received accreditation by the Joint Commission International and praise for its quality outcomes and compassionate care.

HCCI said the facility treated patients from 60 countries in 2016, and it is offering innovative services and top class medical care. However, the goal of kick-starting medical tourism in Cayman from North America has not been realised.

Nevertheless, in the release about the hospital going it alone the founder claimed success for the facility. “The commendable performance of this facility underpins the success our differentiated business model even in unexplored international territories like Caribbean Islands,” Dr Shetty said. “We remain confident about the prospects of this facility in terms of attracting international patients from the neighbouring islands in need of care.”

He said the hospital greatly appreciated Ascension’s support over the past five years, and that it had been “a valued partner in this project, and our organisations have learned much from each other”.

John D. Doyle, Executive Vice President of Ascension and President of Ascension Holdings and Ascension Holdings International, avoided detailing in the release why the deal between the two healthcare providers was coming to an end. He said the goal was to address unmet needs of residents of the greater Caribbean region particularly those who are poor and vulnerable.

“Our objective has been less about owning hospitals in other countries, but rather about helping those hospitals achieve success and sustainability by offering services such as resource and supply management and biomedical engineering through Ascension’s Solutions Division subsidiaries,” Doyle said. “With the success of HCCI, Ascension can continue to focus our energies and resources on our other international needs.”

Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascension, said the hospital had achieved great results.

“Most importantly, true to our mission and our goals for the partnership, HCCI has provided free surgeries and procedures for more than 200 children from Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and other countries who otherwise could not afford treatment,” Dr Tersigni said. Most recently, HCCI sent staff to neighboring islands hit by this season’s hurricanes to provide needed medical care.

Comments (20)

The article mentions over 200 free surgeries and procedures for children, but from what I’ve been told this is misleading since, although they were free to the families, HCCI was, in fact, paid by charitable/business organizations for many of the procedures performed on these children from overseas. Can someone confirm this for sure?

“In recent months it has become apparent that HCCI is more focused on the local and regional market.”

If there is a focus on local markets then there should only be one standard applied for registration of medical practitioners. Either allow Indian qualified doctors to work at HSA or don’t allow Indian qualified doctors to work at H City.

At the beginning of this project, HCCI clearly stated it would not encroach on areas that would affect the work of other medical specialists and it’s reneged on that promise. Ascension’s exit is the first sign of a failing medical tourism project. Medical tourism the third arm of the Cayman economy? What a joke, and what a lie. And Bush and his colleagues, and a large portion of the general public fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

I’m thinking that HCCI has realized they do not need this partnership in order to become profitable and recognized. I’d dare to say that the majority of the patients that HCCI has assisted all these years were acquired through referrals and the hospital’s own marketing and not from the partnership – what is the point of paying a partner if you are doing all the work and getting results on your own?

I might be worth exploring if the CIG and HCCI can reach an agreement for HCCI to be the primary health provider for the Cayman Islands with a view to closing the existing government run hospital. The existing government run hospital has been mismanaged and if we can get HCCI to provide guaranteed service levels at a reasonable cost then the government should get out of the business of providing health services in the Cayman Islands.

That’s a big if for a place that over-uses tests (full spectrum tests drive up health costs in US and at HCI) and has never intended to do emergency care because that’s a money loser (unless you overbill medicaid for tests in the US). What you’re taking about re ‘mismanagement’ is the difference between health as a ‘public service’ and health for profit. Neither is right or wrong but the HSA’s problem has been Government’s schizophrenia on whether health is something you have to pay for or a public service, i.e, politicians unwillingness to be seen forcing people to pay wither higher insurance costs or bankrupting medical costs.

Please include your email address in the form below if you are using your real name. You can use a pseudonym, with or without leaving an email address, or just leave the form blank to be "Anonymous". All comments will be moderated before they are published. The CNS Comment Policy is at the top of this page. Cancel reply

(CNS Foodie): My partner and I arrived for brunch at Agua just after the 11:30am opening, already starving and anxious to get started on the meal. After a little wait to get seated we were ushered to our booked table, which we were sharing with some friends. A waiter arrived and explained the menu to […]

(CNS Foodie): I will admit to having a soft spot for Café Amazon since it seems to be one of the few businesses on this island trying to make a difference by embracing the idea of a zero carbon footprint. They also say they source their ingredients locally and use organic coffees and teas. So […]

(CNS Foodie): In the mood for a change of scenery, my companion and I decided a small trip to West Bay was in order, plus the opening of a new café had caught my eye. We found the place fairly easily; the Boggy Sand Café is in the car park next door to Foster’s Republix. […]

(CNS Foodie): My partner and I were in the mood for al fresco dining, especially somewhere with an ocean view. Catch was our choice and we were looking forward to the evening out, but unluckily Mother Nature decided to let it rain. Despite the dismal weather, which surprised us, as we scampered to the restaurant […]

(CNS Foodie): When you’re preparing to go out for dinner, there’s this surging excitement, almost childlike anticipation, of the possibilities of the epicurean night ahead. For me, it’s the prospect of sampling someone’s culinary creativity, a chance to take pointers from experts in a field in which I’ve dabbled, albeit as a domestic thrill, never […]

(CNS Foodie): My companion and I decided that a nice meal out was just the thing to pick up our spirits mid-week (plus the leftovers had run out) so we headed to The Wharf Restaurant and Bar. The Wharf has been newly refurbished and we wanted to see what changes had been made and check […]